Pinner Palette: Lavender

Real talk: what's the Purple People Eater platform regarding lavender? Because we really like it.

 

By Holly Harrison, Marketing Director and Good Matcher

Pinner Palette: White

Winter arrived with seriously too much fanfare in southern Minnesota, meaning we've been seeing and thinking white—mostly against our will. Here we channeled that energy into gathering some of the finest shades of white (from freshly fallen to moderately filthy) from the Paper Darts Pinterest exclusively for your perusal.

By Holly Harrison, Marketing Director and Fan of Color

On Pinterest

Pinterest is a big deal. To me, to you, and probably to your mom. It gives off these warm fuzzies and shares our collective love of puppies and green leather couches. It knows that we probably can’t afford the Givenchy boots that we save, and it doesn’t judge for it. The Pinterest page is, in a way, an extension of self. It is our ideal self, I suppose. The one that owns the perfect end table and the right knick knacks to top it. But it’s not just the best parts of us—it’s the worst. It is all the things we are not, all the things forgotten and not done. It’s a love/loathe relationship that makes Pinterest so universal.

Pinterest lets you both curate and create the perfect you. It’s a way to read someone without words, it’s a book with chapters you’re constantly writing, re-writing, and collecting—and that’s a pretty big deal, if you ask me. It’s not just finding perfect recipes that we want to try; it’s finding the perfect recipes that we think other people should know that we want to try.

What makes Pinterest unique from any other social media platform is that it offers a false sense of ownership without the high cost of living. With all the clothes, shoes, and accessories pinned to boards upon boards, it’s nice to pretend that the items are our own. It introduces dozens of new artists to us with every log-in. Pinterest shows people so many new pieces of art, textiles, and designers that they might never have seen while strolling through the rest of the internets. Pinterest helps us to dream that our walls are lined with fantastic pieces of whimsy and wonder—even though most of us have landlords that would keep our deposit and then some for such holes found in the walls.

But Pinterest is also the beast that puts all of our shortcomings and downfalls on display. People see it too. Because it’s rapidly becoming a great way to spy on someone’s innermost feelings and (not so) secret desires. Way better than the Facebook wall, Pinterest has things saved that no one tweets or posts about. Your new girlfriend’s future wedding plans? Your cousin’s favorite outfits for babies (she’s not pregnant)? They’re all there. Waiting for you to lurk on each board, each little window into an individual’s desires. Pinterest is like an Instagram into the soul…or a snapshot of the psyche, maybe.

Pinterest is the digital junk drawer that we all dread cleaning out.

In many ways, Pinterest is like the virtual version of the many stacks of magazines we all have, waiting to topple if we even think of adding to the pile. It is the articles our moms clip out and save for us and the books that we haven’t got around to yet. It is the digital junk drawer that we all dread cleaning out. Pinterest has resulted in projects not created, things not done yourself, recipes not tried and good book recommendations not ever returned to. Many a Pinterest board has become a virtual graveyard of ideas laid to rest, excited captions typed. And it’s terrifying to think that it’s out there, for all the world to see. 

Especially when it’s as scary/sad a pin as this:

 Of course, it’s also a really fun pasttime, timewaster, inspiration-finder, party planner, etc. Let’s not get all down and out about our Pinterest boards. I mean, some of us are really getting it right.

Like these folks:

Joy Cho/Oh Joy!
Paper Darts! (DUH)
Kate Spade New York
Justina Blakeney
drawdrawdraw*
Sally Franson—proof, proof, proof,  more proof
Jealous Curator
sfgirlby bay/ victoria smith

Now go, pin and pine to your heart’s content. Just know that we’ll be watching.

Meet Our Artists: Part III

Here's your chance to learn a little bit more about the amazing artists who donated their time and talent with specially curated illustrations for each story in Paper Darts Press' upcoming book, Get In If You Want To Live. Each week we'll highlight three artists from the book and give you a peek into their background and style.

Missy Austin

Front Cover Typography

Missy Austin is originally from Cedarburg, Wisconsin and received her BA from the University of Minnesota where she was the art director of the Minnesota Daily newspaper. She lives and works in Minneapolis as a junior designer at Zeus Jones ad agency and is very interested in the following things: Supper clubs, texture, gin & tonics, genuine kindness, the U.P., road trips, samurai movies, camping, Steve McQueen, getting lost abroad, maps & the song "Waterloo Sunset". Missy has a unique stance on design, stating that "I appreciate simplicity as long as it's compelling and value attention to detail as highly as I do efficiency. I don't think branding (or anything for that matter) should ever compromise character and I believe quirkiness, a sense of humor & experimentation will always beat out the safe choice."

Check out her beautiful website for more Missy designs.

Source: missyaustin.com via Hope on Pinterest

Source: missyaustin.com via Paper on Pinterest

Source: missyaustin.com via Paper on Pinterest

 

Robert Algeo

Illustration for "Looting"

Robert James Algeo is a native Philadelphian illustrator, cartoonist, educator, and writer currently living in uptown Minneapolis with his lovely wife (who you may know already if you read our Paper Darts blog on Mondays). He has a high school diploma, one and a half bachelor's degrees, and Masters of Fine Arts in Comic Art, which he received from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2011. Robert regularly creates amazing narratives with electrifyingly colorful graphics, which you can check out along with his comics, process exploration, and more over at his regularly updated blog, inasbentiapress.

Source: inabsentiapress.com via Paper on Pinterest

Source: breakupbots.inabsentiapress.com via Paper on Pinterest

AMTK

Illustration for The Future

AMTK is the creative brainchild of Minneapolis artists Andie Mazorol and Tynan Kerr. The pair work in
tandem on both the conception and completion of their oil paintings. Their artist statement eloquently describes the strange and wonderful way in which they create such colorful, crowded worlds. "As two painters working together, we attempt to keep a practice which allows a shifting and challenging exchange for each of us. Processes of negotiation, cooperation and sabotage lead to paintings which are nudged in certain directions but ultimately take a form of their own. These are things that neither of us would make alone, which seem to arrive through accidental intersections of our intentions. This synthesis of oppositional intentions can manifest as a third actor with its own sensibilities and conditions. If this shadow actor refuses to appear, we can be left stranded and situated more as assistants; building canvases, filling in backgrounds, waiting and creating conditions for this voice to rise again."

See more of the duo's work at their website.

 

FOLLOW PAPER DARTS ON PINTEREST

Feeeeeel Your Way

A friend working in retail once complained to me that women shoppers brush, touch, and grope every item in a store as they shop. I am absolutely guilty of this when it comes to books. Especially old books. Who doesn't get weepy over the feel of a mildewy, dimpled, canvas cover? I don't mean to get all flowery on you, but I bet you know what I mean. This round up of covers will make you want to reach through your computer screen and give a book a well deserved rubdown.

Source: designworklife.com via Izabella on Pinterest

The black is painted on this second hand book... love the idea.

Source: freakyfauna.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

I want to touch it so bad!

Source: wolfeyebrows.wordpress.com via Jesse on Pinterest

Pattern and texture to a minimal end

Source: flickr.com via Meta on Pinterest

Color Blocks + texture

Source: ajourneyroundmyskull.blogspot.com via Meta on Pinterest

I want to run my fingers down that spine for days and days and days.

Source: blog.jilliantamaki.com via Meta on Pinterest

Embroidered Book Cover

Source: ajourneyroundmyskull.blogspot.com via Meta on Pinterest

Old Paper

Source: None via Carmen and Mike on Pinterest

More old paper. Nothing like it.

Source: chicklitreviews.com via Angela on Pinterest

Romantic.

Source: freakyfauna.tumblr.com via Mitul on Pinterest

Touchable for sure.

Source: psd.tutsplus.com via Reece on Pinterest

Touching.

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via findwildness on Pinterest

Aborableness everlasting.

Source: society6.com via findwildness on Pinterest

Feel your way.

Right off the page.

Source: etsy.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Source: imgspark.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Luxurious.

Source: blog.jessicasvendsen.com via andrea on Pinterest

Oh my.

This post was compiled using Pinterest.

Are you following Paper Darts on Pinterest yet?

Meet Our Artists: Part I

Here's your first chance to learn a little bit more about the amazing artists who donated their time and talent with specially curated illustrations for each story in Paper Darts Press' upcoming book, Get In If You Want To Live. Each week we'll highlight three artists from the book and give you peek into their background and style.

Up first, the lovely ladies Jennifer Davis, Ainara Del Valle, and Anne Ulku:

Jennifer Davis

Illustration for "The Bear"

Jennifer Davis is a Minneapolis artist to the core. Born and raised in Minnesota, she received her BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Minnesota in 1998. After being laid off from her job in 2003, Davis began making art full-time and hasn't looked back since. She has established herself as one of the most unique, prolific, and recognizable artists in the Twin Cities, exhibiting work at the MIA, SooVac, and other respected venues across the nation. CityPages, Star Tribune, Minnesota Monthly, the Boston Herald, and Los Angeles Metro Magazine are among the many publications that have sung her praises. Aside from being incredibly talented, Davis is also quite possibly one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.

Read our full interview with Jennifer, published in Paper Darts Volume Two, visit her website, and support local art by snagging a print or two off her amazing Etsy shop.

Source: myloveforyou.typepad.com via Christina on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: jenniferdavisart.com. via bud on Pinterest

Source: jenniferdavisart.com via Meghan on Pinterest

 

 

Ainara Del Valle

Illustration for "Yes, I Totally Spaced Telling You About That Lair in My Basement"

Illustrator and designer Ainara Del Valle was born in Spain and attended college for engineering before realizing that wasn't really her thing. After attending MIAMI ad school in Minneapolis for art direction, Del Valle switched her focus to the ad world, creating designs and images for internationally respected agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy, and Minneapolis's own Fallon. Her talent and drive have taken her across the world, from Minneapolis and London, to Stockholm and Germany, where she currently works as a Junior Creative at JWT Germany.

Check out Del Valle's website to see more of her work and get updates from her beautiful blog.

Source: thisisnotgoingtolast.blogspot.com via Paper on Pinterest

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Paper on Pinterest

Source: thisisnotgoingtolast.blogspot.com via Paper on Pinterest

Source: thisisnotgoingtolast.blogspot.com via Paper on Pinterest

 

Anne Ulku

Illustration for "The Hookers in My Neighborhood Really Love My Chili"

After graduating from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2007, Loring Park resident Anne Ulku began freelancing full-time, making her living off illustration, design, and handcrafted typography. She's worked at RSP Architects, Carmichael Lynch Thorburn, and 50 Entertainment in addition to keeping a very active profile online and throughout the Twin Cities. Ulku (pronouned "aul-koo" according to the Finnish artist) is also the brains and power behind two ongoing projects, Six Word Story Every Day and Daily Hues. The Six Word Story Every Day project has been featured in Droga Magazine, HOW design blog, and the Minneapolis Egotist among many others.

See her website, blog, and Flickr for much, much more.

Source: anneulku.tumblr.com via Paper on Pinterest

Source: dailyhues.tumblr.com via Pamela on Pinterest

Source: anneulku.com via Paper on Pinterest